Welsh rugby sidesteps

Welsh rugby sidesteps are known by other terms, evasion,
footwork, steps, trickery, wizardry, something from nothing and jinks.

Where do Welsh sidesteps come from?

Of course many countries have players who sidestep - but it`s always the
same country with most and best.

I base this on sidesteps captured on camera in high level games.
Over the last several decades Welsh rugby is miles in front.

It`s a proud tradition - part of Welsh culture.

Before that?...

Read player autobiographies of sidestepping players and you'll see many
references to playing

on small/narrow playing areas

against bigger/older children when they were young

on concrete or tarmac

near walls/railings/hedges

all good reasons to change direction quickly and avoid being tackled!

Contrast this with the wide open spaces of New Zealand, South Africa and
Australia with plenty of room for full size rugby fields and - we might have
the answer!

The need to be tricky and elusive in Wales would have been helped by role
models who had gone through the process themselves and found
being evasive is a fantastic skill to have, even on bigger pitches.

Gareth Edwards tells of
his early rugby playing days on a narrow strip of land, "Cae Archie".

The "Cae" (Welsh for field) belonged to the local farmer, Archie
- hence "Cae Archie".
Gareth tells how Cae Archie

was just a narrow strip, about twenty yards wide...
.Somehow all the boys from the village fitted into it....carefully laid sawdust
touchlines and try-lines. Very professional.

GARETH An autobiography, Gareth Edwards (ISBN 0 09 134800 5)

Read it, you`ll love it! I bought an autographed copy second-hand,
just a few quid extra,

And this was before he was even six years old!

An early Welsh sidestep example

There must be hundreds, thousands even, of fantastic sidesteps that were never
recorded. Probably just as many were recorded, but partially hidden by other
players or not fully appreciated because of camera position and so on.

Some of these Welsh rugby sidesteps can be seen as clips on other sites,
some only on rugby DVD or rugby video tapes. Even if the clip is available free
on other sites it is well worth the small price of owning your own copy.

When you have your own copy you can view easily, usually with much better
clarity and size. You can also inspect incidents in slow motion and see exactly
how it happens!

Clips - you peer at them, good for finding out what to buy.

Your own DVD/tape - you live it!

One of the earliest recorded sidesteps I have seen is that of Welsh rugby
player Ken Jones in the game against New Zealand in 1953.

Ken Jones played for Newport, Wales and the British Lions. He was also an
Olympic sprinter.

Wales attacking towards the camera move the ball to the left wing from where it
is kicked across field towards the right wing. Ken Jones collects the ball
after one high bounce, sidesteps the number two covering across field and
scores close to the posts.

Because of the unusual camera angle, you can see exactly what Ken Jones
does when he sidesteps his opponent - nice finishing!

Look for this on 101 Great Welsh Tries. The indicator on my DVD player
says 1.2.8.08.

More Welsh rugby sidesteps

1969 Wales v France

The Welsh scrum-half was Gareth Edwards. He was much more than that.
He was a sidestepping block-busting finisher!

Wales in red going right.

After some loose play following a scrum on the French 10 metre line,
Wales get the ball.

Jarrett gets possession, makes ground down the centre of the field and
puts in a
passto Taylor
as they approach the French 22m line.

The ball is then passed by Taylor to Edwards under difficult circumstances.

Edwards is running fast, backing up out on the right wing -
nothing new, he`s been running this pace most of his life!

Edwards reaches back to get it and dra-a-a-gs it in on the French 22.

He cleverly sidesteps a French player, stepping inside him just metres from touch.

It`s not perfect, I think he goes slighly too soon because the player he attempts
to beat manages to get an arm in the way and slow Edwards down.

This brings him within range and a covering French player grabs him.

But Edwards keeps going. He shakes him off and bullocks his way forward
towards the remaining defenders.

Driving through one he carries the other on his back as he forces his way
over for a fantastic try.

That's what I love, his never-say-die attitude

Gareth Edwards, what a player!

"Well, few people can wriggle out of as many tackles as that!",
says commentator Cliff Morgan.

It's on 101 Great Welsh Tries - my DVD player
says it`s at the 1:5:29:58 mark.

1973 Wales vs Ireland

The Welsh outside-half was Phil Bennett. His sensational
sidestep kick-started a try from nothing!

Phil Bennett, covering back, collects the ball on the far side of the field.
It`s not far from touch and a couple of metres inside the Wales 22.

He lazily sizes up the situation as he jogs slowly and shapes to kick
- just what`s expected.

But no...

He shapes to run the ball, heading towards centre field with his support
and a meeting with the Irish chasers.

It`s all a show!

Suddenly he throws a small but savage sidestep, turning to his left.
He claps on the pace, going straight up field.

The two Irish chasers, not even in the picture when Bennett steps,
are left for dead by the sharp change in direction and pace.

Jinking past another he`s pulled down by the next.

Falling, he spins the ball out to his support.

Ireland are reeling. After Bennetts vicious thrust, they fail to recover.

Some more slick play and Wales are in at the corner.

TRY to Jim Shanklin!

You`ve just got to see it...

Artful

skillfull

fast

expert sidestepper

prepared to back himself

something from nothing

Phil Bennett, what a player!

See the rugby DVD 101 Great Welsh Tries - my DVD player says
it`s at the 1:2:10:34 mark.

You can also see this on a clip on the internet. It`s not my clip - don`t
blame me if it has been removed...no you can`t...it`s been removed
(account closed because of copyright violations!)

One clip is a collection created by someone as a tribute to Williams.
It actually includes footage of other players sidestepping.
Shane Williams is nearly always number 11.
Great song too, sung by Jennifer Saunders.
Shane Williams - Hero.